Monday, March 02, 2009

And You Thought It Was Just Me...

Individual shooters are stockpiling thousands of rounds of ammunition because of fears of future punitive taxation or outright bans of certain kinds of ammunition. Law enforcement agencies are also stockpiling ammunition to make sure they have enough on hand to meet training requirements. The shortage we are seeing is the result of both agencies and private citizens hoarding the most sought-after ammunition.

Thus, this shortage is the result of an accordion effect that has developed over the past few years.

Law enforcement agencies have been rapidly increasing their ammunition consumption because of how they are rearming, causing a permanent increase in demand. Just as ammunition manufacturers began to cope with that increase, a second run, based upon a downward-turning economy and rising fears of laws targeting gun and ammunition, dramatically expanded demand yet again.

Shortages of ammunition and firearms can be expected to continue for as long as it appears our overreaching federal government is a threat to our individual liberties, our economy continues to falter, and our police agencies keep militarizing.

I have been following the reports of ammo shortages via postings on other gun forums.

Just about every time I pass by my local Wally World's ammo case it is out of all the .223, 9mm, .40,.45 and all the bulk .22LR.

Eeekk!

Rumor mill has it that local gunstores have an in with the workers at WalMart. As they are about to re-stock the ammo case, the Wally World employee calls up the gunstore owner who then races to Wally World and buys it all up.

The other part of the rumor is that people are buying it all up and then plan on reselling it at gunshows, gouging unsuspecting people with their jacked up prices.

I have been stopping by the local sporting goods store at least once a week with hopes of finding some 9mm, I bought the last of the stock that they had on hand and they can't seem to get anymore. I asked and they said it had been back ordered since December. Glad that I had the foresight to stock up ahead of time. M.D. CreekmoreThe Survivalist Blog

Sporting goods stores, having had rotten third and fourth quarters in 2008, revised their inventories on all sorts of things downwards, to avoid getting stuck with inventory they could not sell. They messed up on the ammo and gun runs. The world of production will catch up eventually, but expect higher prices.

Some of us can't afford to pick up pallets at a time a la The Nuge and have to scrape pennies for a case or half-case here and there. Let's make sure we're all sharing like nice kids since when that "civil war" comes we'll all be holed up together either shouting for a new mag or stuffing them for the shooters on the line :-) In the meantime, I humbly thank my gun-totin' neighbors nice enough to leave a few boxes here and there for little ol' me and the missus (who's a wicked shot in her own right).

Since I'm a child from the last depression era, I have been taught a lot. I know how we had to do with very little, but survived and had a happy if not adventuresome life. I know what was important to have too. So, I'd like to make a few suggestions to help others to prepare for what will most likely come in our near future. In addition to having guns and ammo, I'd suggest buying sturdy knives, the kind that can be used as tools and for food processing. Buy hand tools, like hand saws and crank drills, axes, sledge and claw hammers. Hoard nails and screws. Don't get caught with powered stuff, as there may not be "power to the people". Buy kerosene lanterns and stockpile candles; more can be made from animal fat. Learn how to butcher your own meat and raise it too. Chickens are easy. Learn to can and preserve foods. Get to know your GOOD neighbors and pool resources and form a survival plan, including getting the hell out of your area, if you have to. To hell with the socialist neighbors that sold you out. They'll be trying to steal what you have left anyhow! Get a good Army survival book and read it ahead of time. Get your sons into the Boy Scouts, so they'll learn basic skills. You get the picture.As one of my friends sagely said of his knife: "When everything goes to hell, this will be the only thing that's worth anything."Some of us have been there.Life Member